Why We Serve: Marine Captain Talks About Corps Pride

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

March 14, 2008 - Marine Capt. John Sand knows what it takes to be a good college student: go to class, read the book, and take good notes. And, for him, first spend four years in the Marine Corps. This realization came after Sand spent a few years as a not-so-good college student after high school, he said.

"I had a 0.8 grade point average for the semester when I left school. That's very hard to do. I pretty much flunked everything and didn't really care much about school," Sand said.

Sand grew up in the small Illinois town of Ottawa. Both of his parents were career educators; his father was a counselor and his mother a grade-school teacher. After high school graduation in 1988, Sand accepted an Army ROTC scholarship to attend college. But after a few years, both Sand and his parents accepted that he needed to do something different.

"I flushed a scholarship away, basically. I wasn't paying for school. I was having a little too much fun. I needed to get some discipline and more control over where I wanted to go," Sand said.

His father, once in the Navy, suggested the Marines, and Sand agreed.

In 1991, Sand enlisted as a Morse code interceptor. He said he did, indeed, learn self-discipline, and that he enjoyed his tour, which took him twice to Somalia on deployments. But Sand had promised his parents that at the end of his enlistment he would return to college.

He made good on that promise and returned to study criminal justice.

"It was a complete 180 from my experience the first time at college. Four years in the Marine Corps made coming back to college kind of ... simple," Sand said.

The former dropout then made the dean's list and played tennis competitively. In the 60 credit hours he amassed to finish his degree, Sand received nearly perfect grades.

Still, he missed the Corps, Sand said. After graduation, he returned to the Marines as an officer.

"When I enlisted in 1991, did I think I'd be doing this in 2008? No, I didn't, but it led me down that road, and I really enjoy it," Sand said.

Now Sand, as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public-outreach program, is traveling the country, telling his story to community, business and veterans group audiences and at other gatherings. Fresh from a deployment to Iraq, Sand said he hopes to convey the efforts of servicemembers there.

"It's important what we're doing in the global war on terrorism. I think it's important that they hear it from the servicemember's perspective," Sand said. "In Iraq, there's a lot more to it than guns and tanks. There's a lot of humanitarian assistance. There's a lot of nation building. We definitely do a lot of work for the Iraqi people, alongside the Iraqi people, to better their lives."

Sand served as an artillery battery commander in Iraq, returning in October. His battery provided a regimental combat team with artillery fire in support of operations in and around Fallujah. They also performed nonstandard missions such as providing security for explosives technicians who cleared the roads of bombs. His battery went on more than 500 combat patrols.

"I like to talk about my Marines a lot. I'm very proud of what my Marines did in Iraq, and I think that there's a really good story there," Sand said. "It's hard work over there. A lot of times they are out for long patrols. They don't get a lot of sleep. They don't get a lot of time off. But they do their job, and they're proud of what they do."

During his tour, Sand said, he saw the tangible signs of progress.

"Things got better while we were there. When we initially showed up, we were shooting quite a bit. By the time we were leaving ... we might go a week or more without ever pulling the lanyard on a howitzer," Sand said. "If we're not shooting as much, to me that's a sign that things are better there."

As a father of three children, being around the Iraqi children sometimes made him homesick, but also served as reminder for why he was there, Sand said.

"Seeing the little kids playing soccer, it's like 'Wow, I miss spending the time with my kids,'" Sand said. "On the other hand, it makes you feel like we're doing something good over there. The smiles, the little conversations -- sometimes just with hand gestures -- or kicking a ball around, that makes you feel good that day."

Sand said he also hopes to convey that servicemembers are typical people, Sand said.

"Military people are your average Joes," he said. We do a lot of the same things. I'm a husband. I'm a father. I'm also a Marine."

In fact, his family is a big part of why he continues to serve in the Marine Corps, Sand said.

"That's very important to me. I want them to grow up in a country where they (continue to) have the freedoms that we enjoy," Sand said. "And so I'm willing to serve to ensure that they grow up in a place where they don't have to worry. I want to ensure that they have a good childhood experience and continue to reap the benefits of the country that we live in."

Sand continues his service also because of the sense of camaraderie he feels for his fellow servicemembers and the sacrifices of those who have fought before him.

"I think that's a big deal. You keep doing it because the guy next to you is counting on you," the captain said.

He is in awe for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, Sand said.

"It's just amazing to think that I'm part of that organization that would have somebody of that character. That makes you want to stay," he said.

"I serve because I'm proud to wear the uniform. I'm proud to be a Marine, and I want to get that message out there -- that it's a very honorable service and that we're proud to serve the American people," Sand said. "That's why I do what I do."

Couple to Spend First Holiday Season Together in Iraq

By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

Nov. 27, 2007 - Army Pvt. Imani Tumbling and Pfc. Angelo Tumbling will celebrate their first major holiday as a married couple and their first anniversary here in a combat zone. Imani, of Valdosta, Ga., and Angelo, of Norfolk, Va., are both assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Imani, 20, a supply specialist, and Angelo, 23, a fire support specialist, met when he arrived at his new unit in March.

Angelo said he always saw himself as a family man, but, having just ended one relationship before he joined the Army, he said he wanted to "play the field" for a while before settling down.

"I wanted to come in for money for school, so I wasn't looking for anybody," Imani said.

"I didn't even like him when I met him," she said with a scowl. "I wanted to get out of the Army, go to college and after I got out of college, that's when I saw myself getting married."

Even though Angelo and Imani mapped their lives out one way, it seems fate had another plan. After a whirlwind courtship -- less than four months -- the two were married Aug. 2 and departed Fort Campbell, Ky., for Iraq in late September.

"It seemed like we knew each other more than we did; we got close real fast," Angelo said. "I figured if I'm already with her every day and I'm going to be with her and do whatever I have to do to be with her, then why not be married?"

When they decided to make the big step, Imani said, there was no fanfare -- no candlelight dinner, no romantic music -- nothing like that involved.

"He didn't even ask," she said with a laugh, looking at Angelo from the corners of her eyes. "He didn't get down on one knee, he didn't say, 'Will you marry me?' He said, 'You're going to be my wife.'"

Angelo laughed at Imani's recollection of his proposal and said he knew she would say yes.

Even though she tried to play hard to get, Imani said, she knew that she wanted to marry him.

Both said they never thought they would make the leap to marriage this soon, but regard it as an unexpected blessing. "Everybody says we got married too fast," Angelo said. "But we're going to shock the world."

The two harbor no illusions that their marriage will be free of obstacles, but they seem determined to make it work. They have minor disagreements and expect to experience the same bumps in the road as other couples do during the first months or years of marriage. Their road just happens to be in southern Baghdad.

The newlyweds say they feel fortunate to be together during what has been the breaking point of some marriages; but the deployment has turned out to be a benefit.

While it is difficult at times not having family and friends readily accessible to discuss a problem, Imani said, the distance from potential outside influences is making them stronger as a couple.

"I think it's good because we can't talk to everybody else about our problems, and he can't jump in the car and leave," she explained. "We have to sit here and deal with it versus going and running to tell somebody else."

The Tumblings do not claim to have all the answers for the perfect marriage. They just take things one day at a time and hope that this deployment will continue to strengthen what they already have.

(Army Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy serves with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.)

Defense Department to Partner With Local School Systems

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

April 19, 2007 – The Defense Department will work with local schools to try to ensure that military children receive quality education no matter where they attend classes, said the director of the Department of Defense Education Activity. To this end, the department is creating an Educational Partnerships Directorate within DoDEA. The directorate is scheduled to be fully functional by October and will benefit school-age children of servicemembers stationed worldwide, Joseph Tafoya said during an interview last week.

"The quality of education for all military dependents is our new mission within the Defense Department," Tafoya said. "We want to ensure the quality that we believe we have in DoDEA is also there in the schools outside the gate and in the local communities."

The Department of Defense Education Activity educates nearly 91,000 of the 1.2 million school-age students within the military, defense officials said. The rest of the students are educated in public, private and home-based schools.

The number of students being educated outside of the defense system is expected to increase due to the Base Realignment and Closure process, as well as global rebasing of the military. By working with local education agencies, directorate officials said they plan to assist military-connected communities to ensure the best possible educational experience for military students.

The creation of the directorate is a collaboration between DoDEA and the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, which will work closely with the Department of Education, individual states and school districts to support the best practices for schools that educate military students.

By focusing on high-quality teaching, professional development, program improvement, high school initiatives, curriculum consistency and foreign language, Tafoya said the partnership with local schools will have a direct effect on students.

"We're obviously focusing on communities most impacted by BRAC," he said. According to Tafoya, there have been several times in the last few years when BRAC-impacted communities have asked for assistance from the Defense Department, but DoDEA was unable to assist.

Following the most recent Defense Appropriation Act, Congress has now allowed DoDEA to work cooperatively with local school districts to ease the transition of students from military to public schools.

Tafoya said the focus of the program is primarily on curricular transition issues. He said he wants to ensure that what is being taught within DoDEA is transferable to schools outside the military.

"We're doing a lot of things internally to assure parents that when they leave us and go to the next location, that their kid is ready for the next curriculum and whatever program is available to them in the local schools," he said. "Becoming a better partner with the local schools will help us understand that process a little better."

The ability to be an educator and serve military kids is a special calling, Tafoya said. Between parent's deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and frequent moves from school to school, he said teachers help military kids who experience a lot of transition in their lives.

"I can't think of a better opportunity to be an educator and also serve the need of the kids we have in DoDEA," he said. "Our ability to give them a great program is the highlight of my career."

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.

Deadline Nears for Commissary Scholarship Program

By Carrie Williams
Special to American Forces Press Service

Feb. 2, 2007 – Military families have an opportunity to apply for scholarships for their children at certain commissaries, but they better do it soon -- the deadline is Feb. 21. The "Scholarships for Military Children" program will be making at least one $1,500 scholarship available at each commisary location with qualified applicants, Defense Commissary Agency officials here said.

Scholarships are available to unmarried children under 21 -- under 23 if enrolled in school -- of military active-duty, reserve, Guard and retired personnel.

Program officials use the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database to determine eligibility. Applicants and sponsors must be enrolled in DEERS and have a current ID card.

"Scholarships for Military Children is a wonderful military community program," said Patrick Nixon, DeCA director and chief executive officer. "Nearly 3,000 scholarships totaling more than $4 million have been awarded since the first awards were given in 2001."

The scholarship program has also made inroads to increasing support from the nonmilitary community. California high school students sponsoring golf tournaments in 2006 raised thousands of dollars to donate to the program, and already for 2007, a private foundation has made a substantial donation.

Most of the program's funds are donated by manufacturers, brokers and suppliers who sell groceries in commissaries, and every dollar donated to the program by industry or the general public goes to fund the scholarships.

The Fisher House Foundation administers the program.

"We're excited to see this worthwhile program gaining recognition and funding from the community at large," said Jim Weiskopf, the foundation's vice president of communications. "Commissary industry support has been amazing, and increased public support can only help ensure that the Scholarships for Military Children program continues to benefit the military community for many years to come."

Donations for the program are accepted at the foundation's Web site, www.militaryscholar.org. About 10 percent of the scholarships go to high school students at DoD schools overseas.

"Every cent that community organizations can mobilize to support college-bound students is an investment in the future," said Joseph Tafoya, director of the DoD Education Activity. "With college costs soaring, our DoD students and their parents appreciate every available scholarship to help defray the cost, and the scholarships enable many of our families to better afford the tuition and provide an incentive for students to work hard. They also demonstrate that military communities are committed to education and increased opportunities for all students."

Applicants must be planning to attend an accredited college or university full-time in the fall term of 2007, or be enrolled in a program designed to transfer directly into a four-year program, officials said. Along with their application, they must submit an essay on how and why they would change a historical event.

Scholarship applications are available at 263 commissaries worldwide, or can be downloaded through links at the Scolarships for Military Children, DecA and DoD Education Activity's Web sites.

(Carie Williams works at the Defense Commissary Agency.)

Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.